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BY KAREN SOLOMON
What is your own home like? Green-building pioneer, former
Always changing. The place started California state architect out in 1971 as a 900-square-foot plywood cabin. A lot of artisans have worked on it over the years. And a lot of it is salvaged. In 1990 I tore down the original cabin and built a Japanese-style wing in its place.
Are you planning any remodeling? I need to insulate and glaze the house, replace certain appliances, and relamp. My partner is a fashion designer, and she’s changed my minimalist decorating into something warmer and cozier.
Which cities have the greenest
architecture?
The hubs tend to be around the coasts.
I think green building is growing every-
where—people are waking up. I like
what Tom Friedman said in a recent
New York Times column: “Green is the
new red, white, and blue.“
to fluorescent lights. They’re quite different from those harsh blue tubes of
How can people make their years past, and they can reduce energy homes more green? use by about 90 percent.
Tighten the internal envelope to reduce heating and cooling bills. Replace the What kind of car do you drive? 15-year-old refrigerator, as well as A ’99 BMW convertible. I’m not a purist. other old appliances, with more ener- Aesthetics are important to me—and gy-efficient models. Go to a Japanese- performance. I bought the car used, style on-demand water heater that the mileage isn’t terrible, and it’s heats for about a third of the cost. quite durable. As soon as they make Solar electricity is crucial. Switch a convertible hybrid, I’ll go for it.
SPRING 2006 green*light 25
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